How to Collect Air Miles if You’re From the UK

There are plenty of U.S primarily based bloggers on the market who write about how one can fly at no cost with a bit of little bit of journey hacking, however these posts are often geared in the direction of Americans. I began to develop bored with studying about frequent flyers amassing 1000’s of bonus join factors, free flights and free upgrades whereas I’ve zilch!

Last yr I took over 30 flights and other people usually stated to me ‘you must have so many air miles with all the travel you do’. In actuality, barring a number of Emirates air miles from a visit to Australia, and some on Delta from my journeys to the States…I had nothing to indicate for all my journey. This was resulting from a mixture of causes…flying finances airways with no frequent flyer schemes, not proudly owning an air miles bank card and simply being fully uneducated about amassing air miles the appropriate approach.

So, since I’m all the time into discovering new life hacks, I made a decision to do a ton of Internet analysis into amassing air miles for those who’re from the UK. The result’s this weblog publish and I’ll endeavour to maintain it up to date as and when new info arrises. For evaluations on all UK air miles bank cards you may need to try the likes of Head for Points or Flights and Points, that are full of details about Avios and different schemes.

Travel Hacking for Beginners

To put it merely, journey hacking often includes amassing air miles to redeem towards future flights, accommodations and different journey advantages. The additional you fly, the extra miles you get.

Major airways often have their very own frequent flyer program and most, however not all, are a part of one of many three main alliances- Star Alliance, oneworld and Skyteam. Being a member of an alliance permits the airline to supply extra seamless journey and supply a bigger route community to extra locations with its associate airways. Alliances profit frequent flyers as a result of they will accumulate air miles with any of the member airways on one single account and spend them on flights with any member airline.

Here’s the place I obtained it fully improper at first. Every time I flew with a special airline I’d join their frequent flyer scheme and accumulate the air miles for that flight. The downside with that is that each one my air miles had been unfold throughout completely different airline accounts, making it arduous to construct up sufficient miles to make use of them for something worthwhile.

What I ought to have performed is signed as much as the frequent flyer scheme of 1 member airline in every of the three alliances. For instance British Airways in oneworld, Delta Air Lines in Skyteam and Lufthansa in Star Alliance. If I fly with any of the associate airways inside that very same alliance, I can accumulate miles on the one frequent flyer account, enabling me to accrue miles a lot quicker. So as an example, if I’ve a British Airways account I might fly American Airlines or Qantas and nonetheless earn the air miles on the one BA account.

Sometimes airways run air miles offers the place you possibly can accumulate double air miles if you are going to buy a flight inside a sure interval. Sign up for the newsletters of those airways so you recognize after they’re working these air miles gross sales.

However, it’s not really easy amassing air miles in Europe for those who’re consistently flying with finances airways similar to Ryanair, Easyjet (though Emirates will allow you to spend Emirates air miles on Easyjet), Wizz Air and Vueling as they aren’t a part of any alliances. That’s the place bank cards can actually show you how to earn miles quick.

Using Air Miles Credit Cards

Air Miles bank cards will help you rating air miles a lot quicker. Instead of incomes miles each time you fly, you earn them each time you spend on the cardboard. Typically you may get 1000’s of bonus factors while you join, though this is dependent upon the cardboard you’re making use of for. Once you earn sufficient miles you should utilize them to get free flights, though you continue to need to pay the taxes and charges.

Air miles bank cards are good for those who:

• Spend loads– the extra you spend the extra factors you get.
• Fly loads– If you’re a daily traveller then it’s price signing up for an air miles bank card, however for those who don’t want the flights there are higher bank cards available on the market for you, similar to cashback bank cards and stability switch bank cards.
• Are versatile– Availability of flights is extra restricted when redeeming miles versus paying out of your personal pocket. You’ll should be versatile and out there to journey on the times/occasions which might be out there.
• Aren’t Looking to Borrow– You ought to be paying these bank cards off in full each month. Spend on the cardboard to get the miles, then use the cash out of your present account to pay it off in full. If you’re trying to borrow cash, there are 0% spending playing cards and stability switch playing cards. It would make way more sense money-wise to get a card with a low rate of interest than to get the journey perks.

The trick is to:

• Use the cardboard for ALL your spending. Use it for all of your day-to-day purchases as a substitute of money or debit playing cards.
• Make certain you pay it off in full each month, in any other case the rates of interest on the cardboard fully undermine the  journey advantages you get.
• Add one other card holder to extend your spending on the cardboard and subsequently your air miles.
• Redeem the miles on long-haul flights or enterprise class flights, because the taxes and charges on short-haul European flights are sometimes greater than the worth of a flight on a finances airline.
• Take benefit of promotions and bonus affords on sign-up.
• Don’t withdraw money on the cardboard, as you’ll be charged a price for doing so.
• If you don’t fairly have sufficient miles, you should buy miles to high them up.

But I can’t get an air miles bank card?

To get an air miles bank card you’ll want to have a good credit score rating. But what if that’s not you?

The downside is, how will you get an air miles bank card, for those who can’t even get a bank card within the first place? Travel hackers make it sound as simple as ABC; ‘get yourself an air miles credit card and travel the world for free’ however acquiring one might be the arduous half. I ought to know- I’ve been rejected for these playing cards earlier than. The chances are you’ll have to do certainly one of two issues:

1. Get your first bank card and construct up a credit standing
2. Improve your credit score rating

Let’s cope with the primary one.

Getting a bank card for those who don’t have credit score historical past

You could be somebody who has by no means had a bank card, significantly for those who’re simply out of college. This is a dilemma as a result of for those who don’t have a bank card, you possibly can’t construct a credit standing, however you want a credit standing with a view to apply for a bank card.

• Get your self on the electoral roll– If you’re not on the electoral roll it is going to be very arduous so that you can get credit score. You can register to vote on About My Vote.
• Apply for the appropriate bank card– Let’s face it, for those who’ve by no means had a bank card, you’re going to need to show your self first. Some banks supply bank cards for ‘initial’ bank cards for first timers or playing cards to enhance your credit standing. They may offer you a low restrict and the rate of interest could also be excessive, however for those who can sustain the month-to-month funds, you’ll quickly construct up a great credit score historical past. Search Money Supermarket for Credit Builder playing cards and take a look at Money Saving Expert’s checklist of a bad credit score bank cards.
• Space out purposes in order that it doesn’t harm your credit score rating– If you make a number of purposes inside a interval of 6 months, banks may even see you as determined for credit score and reject you.

Improving your credit score rating

If you might have a credit score historical past however you might be getting rejected for bank cards, it may be for numerous causes and completely different banks have completely different standards. The smartest thing to do is concentrate on bettering your credit score rating.

• Get a replica of your credit score report and rating from Experian or Equifax, or each. You can get your first 30 days membership free after which after that they may cost you a month-to-month price by direct debit, so be sure to shut your account as quickly as you’ve seen your credit score report.  Check any incorrect particulars and see a few of the unfavourable components contributing to your credit score rating. If you don’t need to do that, you may also order your statutory information for simply £2 on-line.
• Always make funds on time– any missed funds can harm your rating. If there are any missed funds in your credit score file, it’s price contacting your financial institution, lender or cell phone supplier to see in the event that they’ll take away them. If they gained’t do that then you possibly can contact Equifax or Experian to place a ‘Notice of Correction’ in your file. This is principally a notice written by you that explains your model of occasions and explains why the data may very well be deceptive.
• Close unused playing cards– If you might have a number of completely different bank cards out there to you then banks may suppose you might have entry to an excessive amount of credit score and will blow it abruptly. In this case, it might be a good suggestion to shut any unused playing cards you might have. Having stated that, proof of long-term relationships together with your financial institution generally is a good factor, so keep away from closing your oldest bank cards.
• Pay off money owed– If you’re utilizing ALL of the credit score out there to you and solely making the minimal funds, then this may make you a much less engaging buyer. Work on paying off your money owed and purpose to solely be utilizing round 20% of your out there credit score.
• Avoid the rejection spiral– You apply for credit score and get rejected, so that you apply for credit score once more and get rejected. This hurts your credit score rating and places a number of searches in your file. Focus on the issues talked about above and apply in your air miles bank card while you really feel you’ll have a great likelihood of being accepted.

The principal Air Miles Credit Cards on Offer

I’ve all the time been below the impression that air miles bank cards are a lot simpler to get within the U.S and that there’s way more selection. I’m undecided whether or not that is truly the case or not, however at one level there have been only a few choices for individuals from the UK. This is slowly altering and there are a selection of airline bank cards now out there, in addition to the Avios playing cards. If you’re serious about making use of I like to recommend utilizing the Money Saving Expert eligibility checker tool- one thing I’ve all the time discovered helpful. You can discover out your proportion likelihood of getting one of many main air miles bank cards, with out placing a search in your credit score file.

Air Miles Credit Cards

The principal level scheme within the UK is Avios, which can be utilized on flights with British Airways, Are Lingus, Iberia and now Vueling. You can earn Avios factors with air miles bank cards or by way of Tesco Clubcard and even gasoline. Click right here for info on how one can accumulate Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card

The first card I’d advocate you join is the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card.

This card has an annual price however it’s free in your first yr. If you spend £2000 in your first three months you get 20,000 Membership Rewards factors, which is sufficient for a return ticket someplace good! This is the most important join supply you may get and for those who join your British Airways Executive Club account, you possibly can convert the factors over to Avios.

Get this card

British Airways American Express

• No annual price
• Representative 15.9% APR variable primarily based on borrowing £1,200. Interest charge for purchases: 15.9% p.a. variable.
• Collect one Avios for just about each £1 you spend.
• 9,000 bonus Avios while you spend £1000 throughout the first 3 months (supply expires 21 May 2014)
• Complimentary supplementary playing cards for household and associates
• Redeem your Avios for a British Airways flight and for those who’ve spent £20,000 in your Card inside a Card anniversary yr you’ll obtain one other ticket for a companion, for a similar flight and cabin.

Get the cardboard right here

BA Premium Plus Amex

• Annual price of £150
• Representative 56.4% APR variable primarily based on borrowing £1,200. Interest charge for purchases: 19.9% p.a. variable
• Collect 1.5 Avios for each £1 you spend and three avios for each £1 spent on British Airways flights and holidays
• 25,000 bonus avios while you spend £3,000 throughout the first 3 months
• Complimentary supplementary playing cards for household and associates
• Redeem your Avios for a British Airways flight and for those who’ve spent £10,000 in your Card inside a Card anniversary yr you’ll obtain one other ticket for a companion, for a similar flight and cabin.

Get the cardboard right here

Lloyds Bank Avios Rewards Credit Card

• Comes with an American Express card and Mastercard
• Annual price of £24
• Representative 22.7% APR primarily based on £1,200 borrowing. Purchase charge: 17.95% p.a.
• 1.25 Avios for each £1 spend on the American Express card
• 1.25 Avios for each £5 spend on the Mastercard
• Collect a flight improve voucher while you spend £7000 in a single yr
• No international transaction charges
• Collect double Avios on eligible spend for the primary 6 months in your American Express Card

Get your card right here

Lloyds Bank Premier Rewards

• Comes with an American Express card and a Mastercard
• Annual price of £140
• Representative 50.8% APR primarily based on borrowing £1,200 Purchase charge: 17.95%
• Collect 1.5 Avios for each £1 eligible spend on American Express
• Collect 1.5 Avios for each £5 eligible spend on the Mastercard
• Collect double Avios on eligible spend for the primary 6 months in your American Express card
• Companion Ticket with £12,000 of eligible spending in a single yr
• Collect a flight improve voucher while you spend £5,000 in a single yr
• No international transaction charges

Get the cardboard right here

TSB Avios Credit Account

• Comes with an American Express card and a Visa bank card
• No annual price
• 1 Avios for each £1 spend on the American Express card and 1 Avios for each £5 spend on the visa card.
• Representative 17.9% APR primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. Purchase charge: 17.95% p.a.
• 0% for six months on balances transferred throughout the first 90 days (3% price applies). You’ll additionally accumulate 1,500 bonus Avios  for each entire £1,000 stability you switch from a single supplier
• Up to 56 days’ interest-free interval on purchases (from the date of transaction) for those who pay your stability in full and on time every month.

Get the cardboard right here

TSB Premier Avios Credit Account

• Comes with an American Express Card and a Mastercard
• £50 annual price
• Representative 23.7% APR primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. Purchase charge: 13.95% p.a.
• Collect 1.25 Avios for each £1 of eligible spend on the Premier Avios American Express Card and 1.25 Avios for each £5 of eligible spend on the Premier Avios GraspCard.
• Companion Ticket with £15,000 of eligible spend in a single yr
• 0% for the primary 6 months on balances transferred throughout the first 90 days (3% price applies). You’ll additionally accumulate 1,500 bonus Avios for each entire £1,000 stability you switch from a single supplier.
• Up to 56 days’ interest-free interval on purchases (from the date of transaction) for those who pay your stability in full and on time every month.

Get the cardboard right here

Other fashionable methods of build up Avios factors

Tesco Clubcard- Every time you buy your on a regular basis groceries or gasoline at Tesco you possibly can earn clubcard factors for those who join the Tesco clubcard. These factors might be transformed into Avios, which means your weekly journey to the grocery store can add as much as flight rewards. You get 600 Avios for each £2.50 in Clubcard vouchers.

Tesco Clubcard Credit Cards- With a Tesco Clubcard bank card you possibly can accumulate much more clubcard factors while you spend. More clubcard factors means extra Clubcard vouchers, which implies extra Avios. This is good for those who store repeatedly at Tesco.

Fuel- You can earn Tesco Clubcard factors while you buy gasoline at a Tesco filling station, which might be transformed into Avios. You also can receive a Shell Driver’s Club card and accumulate 10 Avios for each 20 litres of Shell gasoline.

Other Airline Credit Cards

Virgin Atlantic White Credit Card (spend on Virgin Atlantic flights and companions)

• Comes with an American Express card and Visa bank card
• No anual price
• 17.9% APR primarily based on a credit score restrict of £1,200. 17.9% p.a. on card purchases.
• 3,000 bonus miles in your first card buy with both card inside 90 days of your account opening
• An extra 7,000 bonus miles while you spend a complete of £1,000 inside 90 days of your account opening and apply by 30 June 2014
• 0% on stability transfers for as much as 6 months from the date of opening (2% dealing with price)
• Earn 1 flying membership mile for each £1 spent on on a regular basis purchases on the Amex card, 1 Flying Club mile for each £2 spent on on a regular basis card purchases on the Visa card
• Earn 2 Flying Club miles for each £1 spent direct with Virgin Atlantic and by way of phone with Virgin Holidays on the American Express Card (Excludes Virgin Flightstore)
• Earn 1 Flying Club mile for each £1 spent direct with Virgin Atlantic and by way of phone with Virgin Holidays on the Visa card. (Excludes Virgin Flightstore)
• Upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy while you spend £10,000 in a yr on the American Express card. (Up to 2 upgrades per yr)
• Receive a companion reward flight while you spend £15,000 in your American Express card in a yr and you purchase a qualifying fare flight

Get the cardboard right here

Virgin Atlantic Black Card

•  Comes with an American Express and Visa bank card
• £140 annual price
• 52.1% APR primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. 18.9% p.a. on card purchases
• 18,500 bonus miles in your first card buy with both card inside 90 days of your account opening
• An extra 11,500 bonus miles while you spend a complete of £3,000 inside 90 days of your account opening and apply by 30 June 2014
• Earn 2 Flying Club miles for each £1 spent on on a regular basis card purchases on the American Express bank card and 1 Flying Club Mile for each £1 spent on the Visa bank card.
• Earn 4 Flying Club miles for each £1 spent direct with Virgin Atlantic, and by way of phone with Virgin Holidays (excludes Virgin Flightstore) on the American Express card
• Earn 2 Flying Club miles for each £1 spent direct with Virgin Atlantic, and by way of phone with Virgin Holidays (excludes Virgin Flightstore) on the Visa card
• Upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy while you spend £5,000 in a yr on the Amex. (Up to 2 upgrades per yr)
• Companion reward flight (simply pay taxes and expenses) while you spend £7,500 in your Amex card in a yr and you purchase a qualifying fare flight

Get the cardboard right here

Lufthansa Miles and More Card from MBNA (spend on Lufthansa flights and associate airways)

• No annual price
• Comes with American Express card and a Visa card
• Representative 16.9% APR primarily based on a credit score restrict of £1,200. Purchase charge: 16.9% p.a.
• 0% for as much as 3 months on card purchases from the date your account is opened
• 0% on stability transfers for as much as 12 months,from the date your account is opened (3% dealing with price). This supply solely applies to transfers made throughout the first 90 days from account opening.
• 2 award miles for each £1 spent through the first 6 months  on the Amex. 1.5 award miles per £1 spent thereafter
• 1 award mile for each £1 spent through the first 6 months on the Visa. 1.5 award miles per £2 spent thereafter.
• Earn 1,500 award miles together with your first buy (supply open until May thirtieth 2014)
• Earn 10,000 further award miles for those who spend £1,000 throughout the first 90 days of your account open date (supply open until May thirtieth 2014)

Get this card

MileagePlus bank card from MBNA (for United Airlines and companions)

• No annual price
• Comes with an American Express card and a Visa bank card
• 2.5 miles for each £2 you spend on the American Express card
• 1.25 miles for each £2 you spend on the Visa card
• Representative 18.9% APR primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. 18.9% p.a. on card purchases
• 0% for six months from the date your account is opened on Balance Transfers made inside 90 days of account opening (2% dealing with price).
• 0% for six months from the date your account is opened on Money Transfers made inside 90 days of account opening (2% dealing with price).
• 0% on United Airlines transactions for 12 months from the date your account is opened.6
• Add as much as 3 further cardholders at no additional value

Get this card

Flybe Credit Card

• Representative 18.9% APR primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. Standard purchases 18.9% p.a. variable
• 0% for 12 months on Balance Transfers made inside 90 days of account opening1
• No curiosity to pay on Purchases for as much as 50 days
• Free further card in your associate or member of the family
• 1 Rewards4all level for each £250 you spend, plus factors each time you fly on Flybe, Stobart Air and Loganair operated flights. Earn sufficient factors for a Bonus Just Fly Return Flight (the place you simply pay taxes and expenses) or VIP lounge entry
• Car rent – Exclusive 10% off Avis automobile rental worldwide
• Parking – Additional reductions on airport parking
• Commission free journey cash delivered direct to your door

Get this card

Etihad Guest Credit Card (for Etihad and companions)

• Comes with an American Express card and Visa card
• No annual price
• 18.9% APR consultant primarily based on a restrict of £1,200. Purchase charge 18.9% p.a. (variable)
• 1.5 Etihad Guest Miles for each £1 you spend on card purchases together with your American Express Credit Card
• 1.5 Etihad Guest Miles for each £2 you spendon card purchases together with your Visa Credit Card
• Welcome bonus of 5,000 Etihad Guest Mileswhen you spend £250 throughout the first 90 days of account opening
• Fast monitor to Etihad Guest Silver Tier upon the completion of 1 paid for return flight with Etihad Airways within the first yr of account opening
• Double Etihad Guest Miles on Etihad Airways operated flights taken in Pearl Business Class through the first three months of account opening
• Triple Etihad Guest Miles on Etihad Airways operated flights taken in Diamond First Class through the first three months of account opening
• 250 further Etihad Guest Miles on each automobile rental reserving made at Budget.
• 300 further Etihad Guest Miles on each automobile rental reserving with Avis.
• 0% on all Etihad transactionsfor 12 months from the date your account is opened
• 0% on stability transfers for six months from the date your account is opened (2% dealing with price). Your stability must be transferred throughout the first 90 days of your account opening
• 0% on cash transfersfor 6 months from the date your account is opened (2% dealing with price). Your stability must be transferred throughout the first 90 days of your account opening.

Get this card

Emirates Skyward

• Comes with an American Express card and a Visa Card
• Earn 1 mile for each £1 you spend on the American Express card and 1 mile for each £2 you spend on the Visa card
• Earn 2 miles for each £1 you spend instantly with Emirates airline on the American Express card and a pair of miles for each £2 you spend instantly with Emirates on the Visa card.
• 25% low cost on buy of Skywards Miles with the Amex card
• 10% low cost on Emirates Holidays with the Amex card
• 0% on Balance Transfers for six months from account opening (2% dealing with price). Balance transfers have to be made throughout the first 90 days to obtain this supply.
• 0% on Money Transfers for six months from account opening (2% dealing with price). Money transfers have to be made throughout the first 90 days to obtain this supply.
• Representative instance: 17.9% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equal to 17.9% APR consultant (variable) primarily based on a credit score restrict of £1200.
• Up to three further cardholders at no additional value.

Get this card

American Airlines AAdvantage

• Comes with an American Express card and a Visa card
• No annual price
• Earn 1.5 AAdvantage miles for each £1 spent on the American Express card
• Earn 1.5 AAdvantage miles for each £2 spent on the Visa Credit Card
• 17.9% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equal to 17.9% APR consultant (variable) primarily based on a credit score restrict of £1200.
• Welcome Bonus – 5,000 AAdvantage bonus miles while you make a card buy inside 90 days of the account opening
• Receive a further 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for those who spend a minimal of £1,500 on card purchases between each playing cards inside 90 days of the account opening
• 0% on all American Airlines flightsfor 12 months from the date your account is opened
• 0% stability transfers for six months from account opening (2% dealing with price). This supply applies to stability transfers made throughout the first 90 days.
• 0% cash transfers for six months from account opening (2% dealing with price). This supply applies to cash transfers made throughout the first 90 days.

Get this card

Ryanair Credit Card

• Earn as much as 5 bonus flights
• 0% p.a. on stability transfers for 12 month (2.99% price applies)
• Exclusive cardholder affords similar to free digital photograph prints
• Additional card for member of the family over the age of 18
• If you pay your stability in full and on time, you possibly can profit from as much as 56 days curiosity free credit score in your purchases.

Get the cardboard right here

I’m not from the UK, I’m primarily based within the US…

For my U.S readers, I counsel you get began with journey hacking by studying Nomadic Matt’s information to choosing a journey bank card and a few of the different frequent flyer websites like The Points Guy.

Did you might have any extra suggestions you’d like so as to add to this web page on learn how to accumulate air miles for those who’re from the UK? Visit my contact web page and ship me an electronic mail. If you’re to be taught extra about how one can lower your expenses on airfare, try my information to discovering low-cost flights.